Huddersfield 0 Crystal Palace 1 Review

Huddersfield suffered their third league defeat of the season as they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Wilfried Zaha, who faced a late fitness test over the international break after a groin problem, scored the only goal of the game and left the Terriers once again having to focus on how they can’t turn possession into shots and what they truly need the most, goals.

Town have had 40 shots on goal with an average possession of 45 percent, which works out as one shot for every 5.1 minutes that Town are on the ball.

That’s more minutes per shot than any other team in the division and worse than the one every 4.4 minutes last season.

This massively contrasts to the Champions Manchester City’s 119 shots on goal, working out at one every two and a half minutes of possession.

Coach David Wagner spoke about how it goes sometimes in Football:

“You don’t always get what you deserve. This was our best performance of the season. We created so many good opportunities. We absolutely dominated the control of the game but didn’t use our opportunities and were unlucky for sure.

“Performance-wise it was very good but the result of course, is frustrating. If we perform like we did again then we know we will get the points.

“They had one magic moment from Wilfried Zaha but we should have defended better. In the last three games we have looked very solid and like we can create something, but the mood is frustration at the minute.”

Palace manager Roy Hodgson also gave his thoughts after the game:

“We played well throughout the game but as you go into that last 15 minutes with a one-goal margin you are always worried. We had a stroke of fortune when their shot hit the post but we controlled the game. We have a win and that is the most important thing.”

On his star striker, he commented:

“He was a constant threat. I thought he was close to scoring more than one goal. But it is nice that he is the match-winner and that is was such a good goal. I am sure it will be one of the better goals of the week.”

The performance was certainly before than the Cardiff game but again there’s not much end product. Football, just like any Sport, is a harsh game that doesn’t favour anyone and the rewards are only reaped by those who successfully get the job done, no matter what it takes.

Fans are starting to point this out online with one saying on the Huddersfield Examiner’s Facebook page “We lack quality in the final third and I’m struggling to see where the goals will come from? Worrying times.”

Another added:

“Kongolo kept us in it second half with some vital last ditch tackles.

“Performance was far better than Cardiff game, but still no end product.

“That’s what’s letting us down, even when we do create chances like we did against Palace, we can’t finish them.”

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer talked about the issue on Match of the Day, saying: “David Wagner was right. They created so many chances but that’s a huge issue from them that they can’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

So, when everyone is talking about it, what do you do?

Well, Town have got to put a heavy focus on their final third play and how they’re going to overcome this hurdle because if they don’t then they’re going to soon find themselves near the bottom of the table and having to play every league game like it’s a final.

It may seem a long way away being only five games into the new Premier League season but this is how these situations start out.